Did you catch Stephen A Smith’s latest take? Because if you did, there’s a good chance your eyebrows hit the ceiling. This man, who’s supposedly one of the most respected voices in sports, had the audacity to say that JuJu Watkins of the NCAA USC Trojans deserves to be talked about the same way we talk about Caitlin Clark of the WNBA Indiana Fever and Iowa Hawkeyes. And now he’s under fire for forcing this comparison and debate.

‘This sister is special’ – Stephen A. Smith identifies rising star who can challenge Caitlin Clark’s WNBA dominance

Stephen A. Smith is the latest person to jump on the Juju Watkins bandwagon.

The USC guard has enjoyed a meteoric rise to stardom this season and Smith’s latest comments demonstrate her upwards trajectory.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: JuJu Watkins #12 of the USC Trojans celebrates a 71-60 win against the UCLA Bruins in the second half at Galen Center on February 13, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Juju Watkins has caught the attention of the basketball world this season

Watkins is enjoying a stellar campaign for USC this season, averaging 27.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game as the Trojans won the Big Ten regular season title.

The 19-year-old is rated as one of the most impactful and well-rounded players in college basketball and has regularly drawn praise.

“Her talent jumps off the screen for people who are watching on TV — the explosiveness, the body control, the complete game,” her USC coach Lindsay Gottlieb told reporters recently.

“To me, what makes her next level is her impact on winning and her ability to rise to any moment that presents itself, no matter how big.”

Just recently, Watkins demonstrated why the hype exists, when on Saturday she put up a 30-point, five-assist, two-steal, three-block performance against rivals UCLA.

USC are projected as the No.1 seed in the NCAA tournament and Watkins’ rise to fame is only going to get quicker on a national stage as more eyes tune in.

Before that though, ESPN’ Stephen A. has already thrown his weight behind Watkins and backed her to reach incredible heights in the coming months.

“When are we gonna start talking about (Watkins) the same way we talk about Caitlin Clark?” Smith said on a recent episode of First Take.

“JuJu is special, I’m telling you that right now. She is the package! She is gonna be special.”

The comparisons to Caitlin Clark come from the fact that the Indiana Fever guard is a recent college star who transitioned into the WNBA effortlessly.

The First Take regular is a big fan of JuJu
The First Take regular is a big fan of JuJuCredit: Getty

Clark enjoyed a stellar debut season in the WNBA, not only winning Rookie of the Year but breaking multiple records.

The 23-year-old ended up setting a regular-season WNBA record for assists in a season with 337.

Clark also set a record for the most points scored or assisted on in a season with 1520 and the most 3-point field goals by a rookie with 122.

While Watkins might have a few years until she enters the world of professional basketball, right now she can focus on winning big in the NCAA, something her coach knows she wants.

“I think what JuJu brings to the table is just a fierce competitiveness, a focus on winning and not on noise, and an ability to look inward and galvanize a group to do the same,” Gottlieb said.

“The focus on winning and that sort of magnetic competitiveness is probably not seen or not talked about enough with her.”